Load retarding device



March 21, 1961 w, NICHQL LOAD RETARDING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 3, 1959 //V VE/VTOR W/L BERT 6. N/Cl-IOL I I I l I LU UJ March 21,1961 w, c o 2,975,730

I LOAD RETARDING DEVICE March 21, 1961 w. e. NICHOL 7 ,97 ,7

LOAD RETARDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //V l E N TORW/L BERT 6. IVICHOL for/1Q LOAD RETARDING DEVICE Wilbert G. Nichol,Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, acorporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 850,615

4 Claims. 01. 105-369 The present invention relates generally to thehandling of heavy materials in transit and more particularly to thebracing of flat-band-secured package units of heavy material in railwaycars or other vehicle carriers.

In shipping steel or other heavy material in coil or flat sheet form thematerial is usually placed on Wooden pallets or skids and securedthereon with flat ladingstrapping toform a package unit. The palletizedor skiddedpackage units are loaded into railway boxcars, gondolasorothercarrier vehicles by means of lift fork tractors, crane hoists ,or thelike. After the package unit has been loaded in the carrier vehicle itmay be rigidly braced by means vof wood blocking or similar means.Frequently, if the material in the package unit is heavy, no bracing isapplied. In such cases the weight of the package is relied upon tocreate sufficient friction between the pallet or skid runners and thefloor of the vehicle to restrain movement of the load unit duringtransit. If the package unit is made up of material which may be easilydamaged, such as thin gauge tin plate, it may be loaded in-the carriervehicle in a manner to create a controlled-movement load; This latterloading arrangement minimizes the possibility of damage to the materialcaused by package units forcibly contacting the ends of the carriervehicle or each other during transit. As is well'known in the art, theterm .controlled-movement loosen or break so that the load unit becomesfree of restraint and shifts back and forth freely in the car therebycausing damage to the material from forcible end wall contact orforcible contact with other package units.

Such shifting also frequently causes the package units to block the cardoorway so that it interferes with unloading operations.

Prior to my invention, to make up a controlled-movement load in carriervehicle, it was usual practice to alfix one or more lengths of flat bandto the floor of the vehicle by means of strap-movement retarder devicesand then wrap the strapping around the package unit.

The retarder devices, sometimes referred to as mechanical brakemen, wereusually in the form of flat slotted plates which were nailed to thefloor of the carrier after the strapping was threaded through the plate.Such retarder plates served to provide, a load braking effect throughthe deformation of the flat lading-strapping and a certain amount offriction exerted on the flat strapping between the nailed plate and thefloor of the vehicle as the load or package unit moved back and forthunder alternating impacts during transit. When the carrier vehiclereached its destination and .was unloaded the ret-arder plates werepriedup from the floor. Thus the atent T in sections of vehicle floorboards being pulled out along 7 2,975,730 -,Pai;ented Mar. 21, 19f.

' 2 plates were restricted to a single, use and had to be threaded with,lading strapping and nailed to the floor of the car each time they wereused.

Up to the time of my invention this type of load retarding plate waswidely and effectively used for shipment of products such as heavypackages of tin plate in sheet or coil form. Although the use of suchfiat retarder plates substantially reduced impact damage, certaindisadvantages were inherent in their use. Among such disadvantages werethe following:

(a) Installing the number of single-use retarder plates necessary foreach carload of product required considerable time and labor whichincreased the shipping costs.

(b) Carrier vehicle floors had to be in excellent condition to providepositive anchorage for the plates.

(0) Extremely high speed impacts sometimes resulted with the retarder.

(d) Removal of the retarder plates from the vehicle floor afterunloading was difficult and laborious and ultimately resulted inexcessive floor damage.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to substantiallyeliminate the above-listed and other disadvantages by providing a loadretarding device which can be permanently installed in the floor of acarrier vehicle and be used repeatedly for controlled-movement loads.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated generally in the form of an elongated box adapted tobe recessed in the floor of a carrier vehicle and having a slotted topand means in its interior defining a wave-like or tortuous passageway inwhich lading strapping can beinserted and then looped around a packageunit.

it is a further object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter set forth in the above object in which the slotted top ishinged so that the device can be opened to facilitate the insertion ofstrapping therein.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated in which the elements forming the tortuouspassageway provide spaced bearing surfaces located in different planesin the passageway for engaging and deforming the lading strapping toretard its movement.

Corollary to the above object it is a further object of the invention toprovide a device of the character indicated in which the bearingsurfaces are shaped to deform the lading strapping in both thelongitudinal and transverse direction to retard its movement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a load retardingdevice of the character described having resilient means incorporatedtherein which is yieldable under pressure of the lading strapping toprevent severance of the strapping when it is under load tension causedby severe impact shock.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of the understructure of a railroad carhaving the load retarder of the invention installed therein;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view with a portion cut away for clarity of the loadretarder of the invention;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line IVIV ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view taken along the line VV of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the load retarder ofthe invention in open position;

Figure 7 is an elevational view with the load retarder illustrated inbroken lines showing a load unit arranged according to the invention;and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation of amodification of the load retarder of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 2designates the-floor of a railway boxcar having load retarding devicesof the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 4, installedin openings therein. With the exception of the load retarder 4 of theinvention, which will be described in detail hereinafter, the boxcar isconventional in structure having the usual understructure consisting ofa center sill 6, side sills 8 and intermediate stringers 10 extendinglongitudinally and cross bearers 12 extending transversely of the car.

As viewed in Figure 1-, the load retarding devices 4 of the inventionare positioned extending longitudinally of the car and may be disposedin spaced alignment transversely thereof.

The retarding device 4 includes a box frame member having spaced sidewalls 14 and 16 and end Walls 18 and 20. The end wall 18 is formed withan opening 22 therethrough and a support bracket 24 projecting from itsouter face immediately below opening 22 for a purpose which will becomeapparent hereinafter.

A cover plate 26 is hinged to the side walls 14 and 16 and extends overthe top of the box frame formed by the side Walls 14 and 16 and endwalls 18 and 20. The cover plate is provided with a pair of spacedtransverse slots 27, one adjacent each end thereof.

The cover plate is'generally channel shape in form having downturnedsides which fit over the side walls 14 and 16. One end 28 of the coverplate is rounded and provided with spaced slots 30 and carries atransverse shaft 32 welded or otherwise rigidly afiixed thereto. Theends of the shaft 32 are journaled in the side walls 14 and 16 to form ahinge connection for the cover plate so that it can be pivoted upwardlyaway from the boxed frame.

The opposite end 34 of the cover plate is provided with a top guideplate 36 and bottom support angle 38 extending thereacross in spacedparallel relation to form a receptacle 39, which communicates with theopening 22 in the end wall 18 when the cover plate is in closedposition, as best shown in Figure 4.

The cover plate is locked in closed position by means of a key 40 whichis in the shape of a flat elongated plate having a hole 42 therethroughand a lug 44 projecting from the upper surface thereof adjacent one end.The key 40 is dimensioned to fit slidably through the opening 22 andinto the receptacle 39 to lock the cover in closed position as shown inFigures 3 and 4. The bracket plate 24 which projects from the outersurface of the end wall 18 supports the key 40 and is provided with ahole for receiving a iocking pin 46 which is inserted in the hole 42 inthe key to maintain the latter in locking position.

An elongated bottom plate 48 having a wave-like configuration whenviewed in elevation, is welded or otherwise rigidly fastened along itsedges to the side walls 14 and 16. The end portions of the plate 48extend angularly and upwardly toward the slots 27 in the cover plate 26.

An elongated intermediate plate 50'is attached loosely to the undersideof the cover plate 26 by means of metal screws 52 and extendslongitudinally along the bottom of the cover plate between the slots 27above the bottom plate 48. The intermediate plate has a wave-likeconfiguration when viewed in elevation mating with the configuration ofthe bottom plate so that the plates are in nesting relation and define atortuous passageway therebetween.

Resilient means in the form of a cushion 54 made of rubber, neoprene orsimilarly compressible material, is disposed between the intermediateplate 50 and the cover plate 26. The cushion 54 constantly urges the 4middle plate away from the top plate for a purpose which will becomeapparent.

The bottom plate 48 may he provided with spaced longitudinal slots 56therethrough to render the device self-cleaning.

The retarder device of the invention is installed in an opening in thecar floor which is slightly longer than the box frame of the device. Theretarder device is secured to the underframe of the car below theopening in the car floor by welding the bottom edges of the side Walls14 and i6 and end walls 18 and 20 to the upper surface of the centersill 6, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Where the retarder device isto be located in a position remote from the center sill, an enlargedflange 58 is rovided on the bottoms of the end walls 18 and 20 forbolting or welding to a pair of spaced tie plates 60 welded betweenadjacent longitudinal stringers 10 of the underframe. The box frame ofthe retarder device is so dimensioned that the cover plate 26 is flushwith the floor of the car when the installed device is closed.

In operation, the pin 46 is lifted from the key 40 and the key isshifted away from the end wall 18 to free the end 34 of the cover plate26 so that it may be pivoted clockwise, as viewed in Figure 6, to openthe retarder device. A pre-cut length of fiat metal lading strapping Sis then inserted in the opened load retarder with its ends lying on thefloor of the car adjacent either end of the load retarder. The coverplate 26 is then pivoted to closed position, the key 40 is shifted sothat it enters the receptacle 39 in the end of the cover plate and thepin 46 is inserted to lock the key in position and secure the coverplate in closed position. A load unit P, which for purposes ofdemonstration, consists of a package of steel sheets mounted on apallet, is then loaded in the car with the pallet straddling theretarder device 4-, as best shown in Figure 7. Then the length ofstrapping is tensioned around the load unit in a vertical loop sealedwith conventional tools and tacked to the pallet as at T.

Although I have shown the use of three retarder devices spacedtransversely of the car in Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that moreor less than three retarder devices arranged as desired may be used.

After the load unit P has been thus secured, the car is ready fortravel. When impact forces are encountered during travel the load unitwill respond by moving only a limited distance, movement of the unitbeing retarded by the action of the bearing surfaces in the tortuouspassageway formed between the intermediate and bottom plates of theretarder device on the strapping inserted therein. When the load unitmoves under impact the strapping S is deformed as it moves through thetortuous path defined between the intermediate plate 50 and the bottomplate 48. As the load unit moves the strapping S is tensioned as shownin' Figure 4 and bears against the intermediate plate 50 at the bearingsurfaces formed on the bottom of the plate by the wave-likeconfiguration as at 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d and 502, and against the bottomplate 48 at the bearing surfaces 48a, 48b, 48c and 48d, formed by thewave-like configuration of the bottom plate. It will be noted that thebearing surfaces of the intermediate and bottom plates lie in differenthorizontal planes. This arrangement causes deformation of the strappingS in the longitudinal direction so that its movement is positivelyretarded.

When a flat steel strapping band is thus deformed by drawing it throughthe retarder of the invention, a carefully controlled and positivelyshaped deformation is achieved which results in an optimum braking ormovement-retarding effect. As the strapping moves back and forth underalternate impacts a relatively uniform braking action is obtained.

Cushion 54 functions as a built-in shock absorber and prevents strappingbreakage under severe impact shock. Cushion 54 compresses under pressurefrom the intermediate plate 50 when the strapping is under load tension.

It will be understood that the configuration of the intermediate andbottom plates may be varied by varying the configurations so that agreater or less number of bearing surfaces are provided on each of theplates. However, it is preferable that the intermediate plate bedesigned with at least two spaced bearing surfaces and the bottom platewith at least one bearing surface mating with the two bearing surfaceson the intermediate plate. In order to bring about optimum brakingeffect it is also important that the bearing surfaces on theintermediate and bottom plates lie in different horizontal planes.

Figure 8 illustrates a modification of my invention characterized by thebearing surfaces on the intermediate plate having a concave contour 50'and by the mating bearing surfaces on the bottom plate having a convexcontour as at 48'. The concave and convex bearing surfaces cooperate todeform the strapping S in the transverse direction as it moves throughthe retarder. Thus, with mating concave and convex bearing surfaces, thestrapping S is engaged and deformed in both the longitudinal andtransverse directions and, consequently, is subjected to a higher degreeof braking action. It will be understood that only some of the bearingsurfaces on the intermediate and bottom plates may be provided withconcave and convex bearing surfaces as described above, if desired.

If desired, more than one length of strapping may be inserted in theretarder device of the invention to secure relatively heavy load units.The multiple lengths of strapping may be inserted in the retarder deviceone above the other and then be tensioned around the load unit andsealed in the customary manner.

While two embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for checking the movement of a metal strapping-encircledload, the combination which comprises a load-bearing surface, anelongated box frame member having spaced end walls and sidewalls mountedin recessed relation in said load-bearing surface, a cover platedisposed on the top of said member, said cover plate having a pair ofaligned slots therethrough spaced longitudinally therealong forreceiving said metal strapping, a bottom platein said frame memberspaced below said cover plate, said bottom plate having a wavelikeconfiguration along its length, said bottom plate extending betweenpoints adjacent opposite ends of said frame member, said slots beingdisposed between said points, an elongated intermediate plate having awavelike configuration along its length attached to and extendinglongitudinally along the underside of said cover plate between saidslots, the waves in the wave-like configuration of said bottom plate andsaid intermediate plate extending transversely of said box frame member,said intermediate plate being spaced above said bottom plate, saidintermediate plate and said bottom plate being disposed in substantiallynesting relation and defining therebetween a tortuous passageway forsaid strapping, and spaced bearing surfaces on said intermediate plateand on said bottom plate for frictionally engaging and deforming saidstrapping to retard but not prevent its movement through saidpassageway.

2. A load retarding device as defined by claim 1 including meanspivotally connecting said cover plate by one end to said sidewalls, andlatch means disposed in said frame member for locking said cover plateon said frame member.

3. A load retarding device as defined by claim 1 in which said bottomplate is provided with at least one slot therethrough for the passage ofmatter whereby said load retarding device is rendered self-cleaning.

4. A load retarding device adapted to be installed in the floor of aload-carrying vehicle for retarding the movement of a metalstrapping-encircled load over said floor which comprises an elongatedbox frame member having spaced end walls and sidewalls, a cover platedisposed on the top of said member, said cover plate having a pair ofaligned slots therethrough spaced longitudinally therealong forreceiving said strapping, a bottom plate in said frame member spacedbelow said cover plate, said. bottom plate having a wave-likeconfiguration along itslength, said bottom plate extending betweenpoints ad-- jacent opposite ends of said frame member, said slotsbeingdisposed between said points, an elongated inter-- mediate plate havinga wave-like configuration along its. length attached to and extendinglongitudinally along the underside of said cover plate between saidslots, the waves: in the wave-like configuration of said bottom plateand. said intermediate plate extending transversely of said. box framemember, said intermediate plate being spaced. above said bottom plate,means loosely attaching said in-- termediate plate to said cover platefor movement toward and away from said cover plate, resilient meansinterposedv between said cover plate and said intermediate plate:whereby said intermediate plate is constantly urged away ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Slocum Apr. 25,1922 Floehr Aug. 12, 1958

